The Cerritos women’s water polo team had an insightful performance despite a 7-4 loss against American River College on Thursday, Oct. 16. at the aquatic center located in Cerritos College.
Having played and lost to American River College earlier in the season 10-6, the Falcons knew what they were heading into and they showed it in the very first period.
Both teams started off strong with each showing intensity and grittiness in most plays. With constant shot attempts from each side, it was a tug-of-war to see who was going to score first. American River was the first one to draw first blood by a well placed shot by sophomore Emily Perry, but only to have Cerritos Center, Celeste Ibarra, answer back within a minute with of a goal of her own.
As the first period continued, Perry was able to slip through Cerritos defense and score to add another goal to her name.
The period ended with a yellow card to American River College.
The second half started in a similar fashion with both teams still equating out each others performance. Cerritos attempted at least 5 shot-attempts in less than 2 minutes, all coming from set guard, Amanda Rabb, captain and attacker, Carla Harvey, and center Breanna Zuniga.
Unfortunately it wasn’t enough as the opposing team came out defensively stronger after a Cerritos timeout, forcing turnovers and pressuring the Falcons, resulting into a last minute goal from AR’s Rya Minow. The half ended with American River up 3-1.
After the half, Cerritos responded in the right fashion, scoring a go-ahead goal assisted by Breanna Zuniga to Carla Harvey and cutting their chase to one goal, but the celebration ended real soon. The Beavers responded immediately with a strategic timeout, resulting in two goals by Emily Perry.
Cerritos were desperate during the closing stages of the 3rd period to cut the lead short. Shots were thrown from all angles by Rabb, Harvey, Zuniga and Celeste Ibarra, but AR goalie, Avery Dotterer, was able to keep the lead. Captain Carla Harvey was able to make a shot just seconds before the period ended.
The Falcons powered through the final period with difficulty, and according to Coach Macias, “having a hard time to put away the easy chances.” The Beavers scored two more shots from Perry and Minow.
Carla Harvey scored a consolation goal a minute before the match.
Set guard Amanda Rabb believed “the performance was better” from their last encounter.
Coach Macias saw the positive side of the loss as well. He said, “I thought [the] effort was great. I thought the [women] came out here and played with some desire and some urgency. The difference was,” Macias soon added, “ [they] didn’t have the performance we like to make those easy opportunities to possibly win the game.”
The Falcons next game will be on Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. against Rio Hondo College.
